Gemotions

The email notification pinged, and Maya nearly jumped out of her skin. "Congratulations! Your article, *The Untapped Potential of Urban Gardens*, has been published..." Her breath hitched. She scrolled down, heart hammering against her ribs. Underneath the title, the byline read: "By Dr. Eleanor Vance." A hot flush crept up her neck, spreading to her cheeks. She felt a sudden urge to flee the coffee shop, to vanish. The latte she'd been nursing suddenly tasted like ash.

She reread the email, her stomach twisting. Dr. Vance was a respected figure in the field, a name Maya had long admired. Now, her words, her research, were attributed to this woman. This wasn't supposed to happen. She felt a suffocating pressure in her chest, a knot forming in her throat that made it hard to swallow.

The barista called out a name. Maya flinched, certain everyone in the cafe was staring at her. She mumbled a thank you and bolted for the door, clutching her untouched latte. The city air felt thick, heavy, as she walked blindly, each step a lead weight.